Clamp for riding-cultivator shanks



T. A. CURTIN.

CLAMP FOR RIDING CULTIVATOR SHANKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1919.

I 1 ,4O L433 Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. CURTIN, OF MARCELLUS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01E NEW JERSEY.

CLAMP FOR RIDING-GULTIVATOR- SHAN KS.

Application filed June 23, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. Cunrrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marcellus, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps for Riding-Cultivator Shanks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to clamps designed particularly for the work of maintaining a desired fixed adjustment of a soil working tool on its supporting frame or'beam.

Clamps of the general character of the one here described as employed in securing harrow or cultivator teeth to frames, should, if possible, possess but one manipulative device for tensioning the clamp, to enable rapid adjustment and also for the purpose of having the least possible number of threaded members liable to corrosion. It is, however, desirable that such single manipulative device, for example, a set screw, should be capable of easy operation, and to this end be located on the clamp body at a point with reference to the two members which are to be clamped together, where the clamp may exert the maximum leverage in its work. The last mentioned feature is lacking in prior clamps of the same character in which but one setting element is provided.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a clamp for harrow teeth which may exert a powerful grip while permitting easy manipulation thereof.

This object is accomplished in the present device, by a structure designed to engage and draw together by leverage the supporting frame and tool, this structure including a body portion having a fulcrum on one part of the work engaged, and an adjustable means ofi'set from the fulcrum and the remaining point ofengagement with the other part of the work. In the construction shown a setv screw is threaded into a boss on the back of the clamp body. The location of this boss and set screw .at one side of the back results in the improvement here claimed. The two members which are to be clamped together pass through the clamp at right angles to each other. One extends vertically through a yoke or yokes extending from the back of the clamp, and the other passes horizontally between the vertical member and the back of the clamp. By

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

Serial No. 306,189.

tightening the set screw against the horizontal member the clamp body is swung around its side edge which is opposite to the set screw, thus causing its yokes to draw the vertical member firmly against the horizontal member and prevent their relative displacement.

One form which the invention may assume is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 shows in elevation part of a cultivator, the tool frame of which has fastened thereto by the improved clamp a set of soil working tools;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the clamp; and I Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively side and end elevation views.

The clamp shown difiers from other clamps intended for the same work in that it exerts by leverage a comparatively intense pressure for a given force applied at the set screw or other tightening device.

The body of the clamp comprises a back 1 and two apertured arms or yokes 2 extending at right angles from the back at its upper and lower ends. An internally threaded boss 3 is located at one side of the back and receives a set screw 4. The shank 5 of a cultivator tooth or other soil working tool extends upwardly through the arms 2 and the supporting beam 6 extends horizontally between the shank 5 and back 1 of the clamp. The bearing points of the body of the clamp are the inner edge 7 of the back 1, and the inner surfaces 8 of the apertured arms 2. The edge 7 engages the beam at one end of the clamp while the set screw 4 engages the beam at the opposite end of the clamp.

The clamp body being a lever with its fulcrum the edge 7 and the point of application of power the set screw l, the operation of the device consists in swinging the body of the clamp around its fulcrum by tighten ing or releasing set screw 4. When the set screw is tightenedits inner end pushes against the beam 6 and causes the clamp to swing around its fulcrum and draw the tool shank 5 firmly against the beam 6. Due to the degree of leverage possible in the clamp the set screw does not offer any considerable resistance to effecting the desired clamping action.

The threads of the set screw, being mostly covered by the boss 3, are well protected from corrosion.

While there is shown and described but one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many n1odifications. Changes therefore in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims:

1. A clamp of the class described, coinprising a body portion having a back and a set screw, said body portion being formed to fulcrum on one side of said back and having a threaded aperture at the other side for receiving the set screw, and a pair of oppo- 

